Laurene Weste: City and county host low-cost dog vaccination

In many American households, and certainly in my home, pets are members of the family. According to a survey by the American Veterinary Medical Association, our dogs are the nation’s favorite pet, with approximately 43 million households owning one or more of our four-legged friends.

Any dog owner will tell you that canines can complete the family, always providing unconditional love. But recent studies have shown that dog ownership actually helps people live healthier lives by keeping owners active, lowering blood pressure, and boosting immunity.

In addition to food, shelter and abundant love, keeping your dog vaccinated is one of the best things you can do for your dog. To help provide our dog owners with affordable vaccinations, licensing, and microchip services, the City of Santa Clarita and Los Angeles County are teaming up to host the annual Low Cost Dog Vaccination, Microchip, and Licensing Clinic on Saturday, May 3 from 9:00-10:30 a.m. at Canine Country Dog Park, located at 20840 Centre Pointe Parkway (at the Santa Clarita Sports Complex).

Vaccinations available at this year’s event include: Rabies for $10 for dogs four months and older; DHLPP or “six in one” (which includes Distemper, Hepatitis, Leptospirosis, Parainfluenza and Parvovirus) for $14 for dogs eight weeks and older; and Bordetella (for prevention of kennel cough) for $15 for dogs eight weeks and older.

Dog owners can also license their dog for the first time or renew an existing license. If you are planning to apply for a license or renew, you’ll want to bring proof of spay or neuter, which is required. Licensing for spayed or neutered pets is $20 and licensing for unaltered pets is $60. Good news for our seniors! Our seniors are offered a discount and can obtain a pet license for $7.50 per dog. Microchipping will also be available for $15, which helps increase the likelihood your dog will be returned to you in the event he or she escapes from your yard.

Both cash and check payments will be accepted at the clinic. Owners interested in paying for multiple services by check must bring a separate check for each service, as vaccinations, microchipping, and licensing fees are paid to different agencies. Residents are asked to bring all dogs on appropriate leashes with adequate collars to ensure safety.

Playing Around Town

This year’s Clinic is being hosted at one of the City’s two popular dog parks. If you spend a few hours at the City’s two dog parks --Canine Country or Central Bark -- you’ll get a sense for just how much our residents love their dogs. Central Bark is located towards the back of Central Park off Bouquet Canyon Road, and Canine Country is located behind the Aquatics Center at the Santa Clarita Sports Complex. Both dog parks offer a chance for dogs to play off leash and are open from dawn to dusk.

Emergency Preparedness

Our recent earthquakes have prompted residents to prepare their homes and families for inevitable emergency situations. I want to remind you that preparing your family also means having a plan in place to care for your pets; from stocking extra food, water, and medications to formalizing a care plan in the event you aren’t near home when an emergency arises. Check out the City’s emergency preparedness page at Santa-Clarita.com/Emergency for access to checklists and helpful tips to ensure your entire family is taken care of in an emergency situation.

Let’s keep all our family members safe, happy and healthy! Pets make life better for so many Santa Clarita families; make sure you give your pet the best life possible by vaccinating, licensing and microchipping.

Mayor Laurene Weste is a member of the Santa Clarita City Council and can be reached at lweste@santa-clarita.com.